Talcum Powder Lawsuits

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Hundreds of women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talcum baby powder have filed lawsuits against the manufacturers of these products. Women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talcum powder for personal hygiene may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the companies who failed to properly warn consumers about the potential cancer risk associated with these products.

Talcum Powder Products Linked to Ovarian Cancer

Talc is a naturally occurring mineral that is used by many women in the form of baby powder or other talcum powder products for personal hygiene in order to prevent moisture in the vaginal area. However, when used in this manner, talc particles can travel through the fallopian tubes to the ovaries, where they may cause irritation that can lead to cancer. Experts estimate that about 10% of ovarian cancer deaths in the U.S. are caused by exposure to talcum powder.

Lawsuits against the manufacturers of talcum powder products have alleged that the companies who manufactured these products have known for years about the risk of ovarian cancer they may pose to women who used them for feminine hygiene. One medical consultant hired by Johnson & Johnson told the company that the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer would soon be as difficult to deny as the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer.

Although talcum manufacturers have known for decades about the potential cancer risk of these products, Johnson & Johnson and other companies that sell talcum baby powder failed to warn consumers about the cancer risks they could face. Instead of warning women about the health risks of talcum powder, the manufacturers of these products have spent decades developing new strategies to market baby powder to women as the sales of these products have declined in favor of safer alternatives.

Lawsuits Filed Against Talcum Powder Manufacturers

In February 2016, a jury in St. Louis awarded a $72 million verdict to the family of an Alabama woman who died from ovarian cancer after years of using Johnson & Johnson talcum powder products, including Johnson’s Baby Powder, Shower to Shower, and others. The Missouri verdict was the first ever damages award in an ovarian cancer lawsuit against a manufacturer of talcum powder products.

More than 1,200 additional lawsuits had been filed as of February 2016 against Johnson & Johnson by women who developed ovarian cancer after using Johnson’s Baby Powder or other talcum powder products sold by the company. These lawsuits include about 1,000 lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson filed in Missouri state court, and an additional 200 lawsuits filed in New Jersey federal court. Legal experts predict that Johnson & Johnson and other talcum products manufacturers could face even more lawsuits over the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer in the wake of the $72 million St. Louis verdict.

In 2015, a California woman was awarded a $13 million verdict in a lawsuit filed against Colgate-Palmolive after she was diagnosed with cancer linked to the company’s Cashmere Bouquet talcum powder. According to the lawsuit, Cashmere Bouquet was contaminated with asbestos particles, which resulted in the woman being diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer. A confidential settlement between the woman and Colgate-Palmolive prevented the company from being able to appeal the jury’s verdict in the case.

Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis? You May Qualify to File a Lawsuit

Women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talcum powder products for feminine hygiene may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the manufactures of these products and receive compensation for medical expenses and other damages. The first step in taking legal action is to talk with a law firm whose attorneys have the knowledge and experience work on your behalf to achieve the best possible result in your case.

The lawyers at Heygood, Orr & Pearson have filed hundreds of lawsuits involving defective medical products, commercial goods, and other products that caused serious or fatal injuries to our clients. Our law firm has represented consumers who suffered injuries caused by Yasmin birth control pills, transvaginal surgical mesh products, and other drugs and medical devices. Our attorneys have successfully achieved verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients totaling more than $200 million.

At Heygood, Orr & Pearson, we believe that when manufacturers of talcum powder and other commercial goods fail to ensure that their products meet basic health and safety standards, they should be held accountable in court for the injuries and illnesses caused by their products.

To speak with an attorney about your case and to learn more about whether you may qualify to file a lawsuit, contact the lawyers at Heygood, Orr & Pearson by calling toll-free at 1-877-446-9001. You can also reach us by visiting the free case evaluation form located at the top of this page and answering a few simple questions about your history to get started.